Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) have reintroduced the Youth Sports Facilities Act, aimed at enhancing sports facilities nationwide. This bipartisan effort seeks to create safe playing spaces for children while also contributing to student mental health and economic development.

According to Senator Young, "Youth sports play a vital role in promoting healthy lifestyles from an early age while teaching essential life skills like teamwork and discipline. This bill would empower communities to use existing grant resources to improve youth sports facilities for children living in areas of need, encouraging greater youth sports participation across the nation."

Senator Ossoff echoed these sentiments, stating, "Georgia families deserve modern and safe sports facilities where their kids can play, grow, and thrive. This bipartisan bill will help Georgia communities expand youth sports facilities, strengthen local economies, and foster mental and physical health for the next generation."

The legislation proposes that youth sports facilities become eligible for grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. This would open up funding opportunities for educational agencies, local governments, and nonprofits to develop and upgrade sports facilities, supporting local economic growth. The bill prioritizes rural areas and low-income, underserved communities for new sports facility projects.

In the House of Representatives, companion legislation is being introduced by Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-MI-02) and Marc Veasey (D-TX-33). The initiative has garnered support from organizations such as the YMCA of the USA, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), and Pop Warner Little Scholars.

Jeffrey Britt, Chief Government Affairs Officer at the YMCA of the USA, said, "As the leading nonprofit provider of youth sports programs, YMCA of the USA supports the Youth Sports Facilities Act. Youth sports facilities often lead to growth in local economies as families attend sporting events, support local businesses, hotels, and restaurants. Youth sports programs create a space for families and the community to belong, improve health outcomes and strengthen the fabric of the economy and the community."

Todd Smith, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association President & CEO, commented, "Too many children are sidelined by limited access to sports and fitness facilities—denying them the physical, mental, and social benefits that come with playing sports and living healthy, active lifestyles. With the United States set to host a historic decade of global sporting events, we must prioritize youth participation in sports and fitness and ensure all children have the opportunity to play, grow, and thrive. SFIA thanks Senator Ossoff, Senator Young, Congressmen Huizenga, and Congressman Veasey for reintroducing this bill and proudly endorses the Youth Sports Facilities Act as a crucial investment in our communities – one that leverages existing federal resources, without increasing spending, to help cultivate the next generation of healthy, active, socially connected youth."

Steve Strawbridge, President & CEO of Pop Warner Little Scholars, stated, "Because we see firsthand the role sports can play in shaping young people and growing communities, Pop Warner fully supports the re-introduction of the Youth Sports Facilities Act. By expanding the Economic Development Assistance grant program to include investments in youth sports facilities, this bill will ensure every community has the resources it needs to create safe and accessible sports environments. We urge you to pass this bill, investing in our children’s futures and in the well-being of our communities."

The text of the legislation is available for public viewing.